Sanofi launches specially designed ‘made in India’ re-usable insulin pen - AllStar™

- Only multinational company in India with (a) a balanced portfolio of orals and insulins (b)one of the longest running national patient counseling programs and now…. (c) a chic indigenously manufactured re-usable insulin pen with 10-in-1 features, specially designed for Indians-

New Delhi, October 10, 2012: Sanofi India Limited (formerly known as Aventis Pharma Limited) announced today the launch of AllStar™, its first indigenously manufactured re-usable insulin pen. Developed especially for Indian patients by Sanofi’s Medical Device Development team at Frankfurt (architects of Sanofi’s award winning devices such as the Solostar®, Clickstar®, BGStar® and iBGStar™), AllStar™ is indicated for use of insulinized patients using Sanofi’s insulin portfolio. The AllStar™ re-usable insulin pen conforms to ISO (International Organization for Standardization) standards and is equipped with state-of-the-art, unparalleled 10-in-1 features.

Insulin therapy is a one of the cornerstones of diabetes management, and its efficacy in early as well as late-stage diabetes is well-established. Yet, the first choice of doctors in India for most diabetics has so far been to attempt sugar control through OADs (Oral Anti-Diabetics), diet control, exercise and lifestyle changes. One of the key reasons for delaying control through insulin is the resistance and fear in patients, of taking injections daily, particularly self-administering the same. AllStar™ is custom-made for patients in India. AllStar™ will help improve both insulin initiation and compliance; and bring ease and reassurance to the lives of Indian patients, giving them the convenience of international standards at an affordable price.

Announcing the launch of AllStar™, Dr. Shailesh Ayyangar, Managing Director, Sanofi India & Vice President South Asia, Group Sanofi, said, “Sanofi has always been at the forefront of diabetes research and development and AllStar™ is a testament to our patient-centric approach. For almost three years, Sanofi’s scientists worked closely with our team here to develop a device that was ‘made in India, for India’.”

Dr. Ayyangar further added “AllStar™ heralds a new era of indigenous device manufacturing for Sanofi India, which we hope to utilize for other devices in future. 

‘The launch of AllStar™ is a significant milestone in Sanofi India’s diabetes growth story, and also underlines the Sanofi Group’s focus on diabetes, emerging markets and our regionalized approach to finding solutions that are adapted to local needs.“

Commenting on the genesis of this development, Susheel Umesh, Head of Commercial Operations, Sanofi India, said “In line with our mission to truly become a 360 degree partner in diabetes management, we always start with the patient, to understand from them and their physicians what their real needs and expectations are, and work towards introducing solutions to address those needs and expectations.

‘AllStar™ is the result of a successful collaborative multi-country effort within the Sanofi Group that brought together technology, resources and intellectual capital to help Sanofi India develop a pen that its patients aspire for; one that combines convenience and affordability.”

Through a perception study done in July 2011[i], Sanofi found that the most valued features of an insulin pen are ease of use, readability of dose, reverse dialing and high quality. At that time, the study group perceived AllStar™ as better than other pens in the market on most parameters, with ease of use, lighter, smaller and slimmer design being the key differentiators.

Speaking on the AllStar™ pen’s technical aspects, Dr. Volker Korger, Head - Diabetes Device Projects, (MED Frankfurt) Sanofi, shared that, “AllStar™ is a combination of sleek design styling and sophisticated technology. We brought together Sanofi’s award winning Solostar® design team in Germany and UK to make AllStar™, the lightest reusable insulin pen in India.  The German team contributed its renownedexpertise in quality medical devices, and from Taiwan we included accurate tooling, as in a device such as this, extraordinary accuracy is most vital in even the smallest of components. Finally, the manufacturing is being done in India - well recognized today for producing high-precision components.”

With close to 62 million diabetic patients, of whom many are either undiagnosed or uncontrolled because of poor compliance, diabetes is a major health problem in India. Given the social and economic impact of diabetes, it is important to make concentrated efforts to help create awareness about diagnosis, management and treatment of diabetes and further, to re-inforce among physicians and patients the necessity of preventing complications in diabetic patients through early insulin therapy.

Dr. S.K Wangnoo, Senior Consultant, Endocrinology and Diabetes, Apollo Centre for Obesity Diabetes and Endocrinology, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals said, “Various studies have established the importance of early insulin therapy in the management of diabetes. Key to ensuring better compliance and management at the patient level is providing them with convenient solutions. AllStar™, a state-of-the art device for the administration of insulin, will provide Indian patients with the ease of self-administration, and bring comfort and efficacy into their lives.”

AllStar™ is supported by a patient support team of certified diabetes educators to assist patients under guidance of treating physicians, and a toll-free number. The re-useable AllStar™ will be available for use with Sanofi’s insulins – Lantus® and Insuman® - on doctor’s prescription at all leading chemists and distributors across India.

Susheel Umesh added, “We are striving to help people manage the complex challenge of diabetes by delivering and enabling access to a range of innovative, personalized solutions, because we want people to live ‘beyond’ diabetes, to achieve aspirations and make the most of everyday!”

About Diabetes: Diabetes is a chronic, widespread condition in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin, the hormone needed to transport glucose (sugar) from the blood into the cells of the body for energy. More than 230 million persons worldwide are living with the disease and this number is expected to rise to a staggering 350 million within 20 years. World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that India had 32 million diabetic patients in the year 2000  which would increase to 80 million by 2030. The International Diabetes Federation has reported that the 50.8 million diabetic patients in India in 2010 would rise to 87 million by 2030. These observations clearly evince that diabetes has become a major health problem in India.

About Sanofi: Sanofi, a global and diversified healthcare leader, discovers, develops and distributes therapeutic solutions focused on patients’ needs. Sanofi has core strengths in the field of healthcare with seven growth platforms: diabetes solutions, human vaccines, innovative drugs, rare diseases, consumer healthcare, emerging markets and animal health. Sanofi is listed in Paris (EURONEXT: SAN) and in New York (NYSE: SNY).

In India, Sanofi operates through five entities − Sanofi India Limited (previously known as Aventis Pharma Limited), Sanofi-Synthelabo (India) Limited, Sanofi Pasteur India Private Limited, Shantha Biotechnics Limited and Genzyme India Private Limited.

About Sanofi Diabetes:

With a century of experience in Diabetes, Sanofi stands committed to improve the lives of people with diabetes. Through its various incarnations, Sanofi has led the field in insulin manufacturing as well as in diabetes research and development: from the first manufacture of insulin (one of its predecessor companies, Hoechst, was the original company to produce insulin in 1923, after the discovery by Frederic Banting and Charles Best in Canada that insulin could be extracted and initially used to treat children with Type 1 diabetes ) through to the development of Lantus^® (the first company to produce a long-acting basal insulin analogue) launched a decade ago and up to the present day, where it is now investigating the possibility of regenerating the insulin-producing cells in the body.

In addition to its insulin products, Sanofi has a range of award-winning delivery devices, oral therapies – on the market and in development – and innovative blood glucose monitoring systems, so that, together with its personalized services, Sanofi can offer a patient-centric partnership to people with diabetes.

Aligned to the Sanofi Group’s commitment to diabetes, Sanofi Diabetes India strives to become a true 360 degree partner for patients and healthcare professionals, offering a complete range of innovative and integrated solutions.

OCT

11

India Against Corruption on DLF issue 

India Against Corruption

On Haryana Government’s statement on DLF issue

1.       The Haryana Government, in its statement released on 9^th Oct, has accepted that when the government had acquired land for residential purpose, East India Hotels Ltd was given 30 acre land for building a hospital in 1995. The Haryana Government has also accepted that the company did not build the hospital till 2005. This raises a suspicion on Haryana government as even though the company did not build the hospital for such a long period neither was any action taken against the company nor was the land taken back by the government. On the other hand East India Hotels sold the land to DLF Limited and the government permitted this transaction even when there was a clear change in use of land (used for developing SEZ and not hospital)

The question that arises is why did Haryana govt. allow the sale of land which is being used for development of SEZ when it was supposed to have been used for construction of a hospital? Also that later Robert Vadra had a 50% share in DLF SEZ Holdings Pvt. Ltd. raises suspicion on the motive behind this sale of this piece of land.

2.       Haryana govt has also said that the density in the two master plans of Gurgaon-Manesar complex is the same and it is only the unit that changes i.e. persons per acre in plan 2025 and persons per hectare in plan 2031. IAC has gone through both the plans (See Pg 11 of Notification 2025 and page 8 of Notification 2031) and their respective notifications. Nowhere do they mention the unit of ‘person per acre’. In both the plans the density has been mentioned in persons per hectare. Once again the govt. has made an attempt to divert from the main issue. The point in focus is that the special pocket carved out in Gurgaon, which is allowed to have a density of 2.5 times more than the Gurgaon average, has its boundary same as the boundary of DLF Phase V. Incidentally the same phase has the DLF projects of Magnolia and Aralias where Robert Vadra has many properties to his companies’ name. Is it then not very clear that the increased density in Gurgaon Master Plan is one of the quid pro quo for DLF which has been selling property at throwaway prices to Vadra in the same area?

On Salman Khurshid and Louise Khurshid issue

Yesterday a TV channel had exposed a scam involving an NGO in which Law Minister Salman Khurshid and his wife are involved. It was revealed by the channel that the Center had released funds for the welfare of handicapped people, which were siphoned off. The signatures of Government officers have been forged, which is a very serious matter.  

We demand that: Firstly, an FIR should be lodged immediately in the case.  Secondly, Louise Khurshid who was the project manager of the NGO should be arrested immediately because being powerful she may tamper easily with the evidence. Thirdly, Salman Khurshid should resign immediately from the cabinet. Therefore, since this incident has taken place in Uttar Pradesh, Akhilesh Yadav who has said that this matter would be investigated should get an FIR filed immediately and get the case investigated. If this does not happen then there would be a suspicion that SP and UPA are hand in glove with each other. People would suspect that there is an “understanding” between the UPA and SP that UPA would help SP from the centre whenever there are cases against SP and SP would return the favor.

Today, several disabled people had come to India Against Corruption office to discuss the issue. It was decided that India Against Corruption along with the disabled persons will gherao the residence of Sonia Gandhi to demand the resignation of law minister Salman Khurshid and arrest of his wife who has been found involved in misusing funds meant for disabled.

Dish TV announces Basic Channel Tier free of cost to all customers in the First phase of digitization

New Delhi, 10th October 2012: Dish TV, India and Asia’s largest DTH service provider today announced a game changing initiative aimed at viewers in the 4 metros which fall under the digitization. Under the offer these customers will be eligible to receive a basic channel tier comprising of 70 channels free of cost for life, as against this, TRAI had recommended and all cable MSO’s are providing the basic tier at Rs 100/- per month to their subscribers. Viewers availing this offer will have to remain active by subscribing to a regular package at least twice during a year this is a highly differentiated and extremely consumer friendly move. Consumers in the four Metros are apprehensive about moving to the digital environment where TV signals will get disconnected on depletion of account balance.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. R.C. Venkateish, Chief Executive Officer, Dish TV said, “This is a never before kind of unique facility for all those valued subscribers who will choose our services during digitization. This is a highly differentiated and extremely consumer friendly move. Consumers in the four metros are apprehensive about this sudden switch off of their highly valued TV viewing. This will translate into huge competitive advantage for Dish TV as none of the other competitors both from cable as well as DTH offer this facility, moreover as stated above Cable operators have already announced a Rs 100 monthly charge for Basic tier, which will be provided free of cost by Dish TV”.

Adding further Mr. Salil Kapoor, Chief Operating Officer, Dish TV, said “TV viewing is ubiquitous and most affordable means of entertainment in this country.  For the subscribers ‘switch off’ of the services or their TV going blank suddenly cuts of their information and entertainment lifeline.  Dish TV is now ensuring that this lifeline never gets cuts of for their valued subscribers. Our endeavor of never ending commitment to our consumers to provide highly differentiated competitive advantage over cable and other DTH making us the platform of choice.

Dish TV has provided various innovative products and offerings for DTH excellence experience for its consumers and keeps evolving new offers and services. It has tied up with various government bodies to provide easy recharge options to the consumer which is again first in the industry. Dish TV’s ‘Go Digital’ with Lifetime free TV will enable consumers to digitize with the Dish TV DTH experience of best technology and content and empowering consumers to minimise the fear of approaching digitization.

About DishTV India

www.dishtv.in 

DishTV is India’s largest direct-to-home company and part of the biggest media conglomerate – Zee Group. DishTV has on its platform 400+ channels and services including 21 audio channels with 13.5 million subscribers, which is growing. The company has a vast distribution network of about 1400 distributors and 55,000 dealers that spans around 6600 towns across the country. DishTV has 24*7 call centres with 1600 seats in 11 different languages to take care of subscriber requirements at any point of time.

For further information contact:

Tahseen Fatima

E-mail: Fatima_t@dishtv.in

Assistant Vice President - Corporate Communication - Dish TV India Ltd.